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Retail spending using electronic cards decreased by a seasonally adjusted 0.4 percent in January 2015, Statistics New Zealand reported. This fall follows a 0.1 percent decrease in December 2014.

"Spending on fuel fell in January for the third consecutive month, coinciding with falling fuel prices over these months," business indicators manager Neil Kelly said. "However, most other retail industries had increases with consumables and durables leading these rises."

Based on 2014 pre-Christmas sales predictions prepared by the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and research partner Roy Morgan Research, retailers could count on improvements in retail sales over the Christmas period.

ARA Executive Director Russell Zimmerman said in a news release announcing the research findings that Australian shoppers would spend USD45 billion from 15 November until 24 December, representing a 4.3 percent gain on sales during the same period in 2013 (USD43 billion).

Retail spending in New Zealand using electronic cards was flat in July 2014, Statistics New Zealand reported. Retail spending was also unchanged this month, as it also was in June 2014.

"Spending rose in three retail industries and fell in three in July," business indicators manager Neil Kelly said. "Durables and consumables had the largest rises, while both vehicle-related industries fell."

Retail spending using electronic cards was flat in March 2014, Statistics New Zealand said in a recent report.

When adjusted for seasonal effects, total retail spending was unchanged this month, following a 0.8 percent increase in February 2014.

"Spending rose in three retail industries during March and fell in three," business indicators manager Neil Kelly said. "Fuel had a large fall for the second consecutive month, while consumables had the largest increase."

The consumers price index (CPI) fell 0.2 percent in the December 2012 quarter, Statistics New Zealand said recently. Seasonally lower vegetable prices and more discounting for furniture were partly countered by higher housing and transport prices.

“The CPI has fallen in four of the past five December quarters – the exception being 2010, after the GST increase,” prices manager Chris Pike said.

Robert Walters, the world's leading specialist professional recruitment consultancies, has launched its Asia Job Index for Q2 2012.

The Robert Walters Asia Job Index tracks advertisement volumes for professional positions across the leading job boards and national newspapers in Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, mainland China, South Korea and Japan. According to the Job Index, levels of job advertisements continued to increase across Asia, increasing 11.8 percent from 1Q to 2Q.

Xtep International Holdings Limited, a leading fashion sportswear enterprise in China, announced that its brand representative, US track and field sprinter Justin Gatlin, has qualified for the London Olympics 2012 after winning the men's finals at the US Olympic Track and Field Trials on 24 June in Eugene, Oregon, in 9.80 seconds. Gatlin will represent the US at the London Olympics 2012, bringing his running choice, Xtep, again under the athletics spotlight on a bigger international arena.